Making of Romania: the Medieval States

All of what is now Romania was made up of small states, each one with its own story. Walachia, Moldavia, Transylvania and Dobrogea are the historical regions of Romania that give the country its cultural and historical richness. Let's go over a few things you should know about each of them. By Alexandra Fodor Romania was divided into four historical and cultural provinces: Transylvania in the north-west and center, Moldavia in the east, Walachia(Oltenia and Muntenia) and Dobrogea in the south-east. The foundation of Moldavia dates from the first half of the 14th century. The legend goes that Dragos, a Romanian nobleman, crossed into Moldavia from Maramures while hunting an aurochs and imposed his rule there. The arrival of Dragos in Moldavia is known in Romanian historiography as the descalecat (dismounting). Some years later, Bogdan Ist came from Maramures, an event known as the second dismounting of Moldavia. The Romanian folklore mentions Negru-Voda as the founder of Walachia but beyond the legend there is a historical reality: the medieval state Walachia (Muntenia) was founded by Basarab I after the battle of Posada, in 1330. Transylvania belonged, under a special status, to the Hungarian Crown until Hungary disappeared as a state in 1541. The formation of Romanian medieval states ends with the creation of Dobrogea. The first record of an independent political region of Dobrogea is dated 1325. In this period, Balica, a Bulgarian noble, declares its independence, forming the Principality of Cavarna. The principality was in a constant struggle with the Bulgarians, Byzantines, Turks and Tartars and survived only until 1388 when the south was conquered by the Turks and the north came under the control of the Romanian Country (Tara Romaneasca). The rulers of medieval times can be considered the most representative for the Romanian people. Most legendary among these rulers were Mircea cel Batran, Vlad Tepes, Iancu de Hunedoara, Stefan cel Mare and Mihai Viteazu. Mircea cel Batran (Mircea the Elder) was one of the most important rulers of the Romanian Country (Tara Romaneasca). He got the byname “Elder” after his death in order to distinguish him from his successors. Mircea strengthened the power of the state, promoted economic development and minted silver money that enjoyed a wide circulation. He was the wallachian ruler who succeeded the first victory against the Ottoman Empire at Rovine in 1395. He participated in the European crusades against Turks and was on the battlefield of Nicopolis when the Europeans were shamefully defeated. Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler) ruled Walachia under three reigns: in 1448, from 1456 to 1462, and again in 1476. His name derives from the cruelest torture he inflicted on victims: death by impalement. The list of his tortures also included: cutting off limbs, blinding, strangulation, burning. Despite his sadism, he is remembered for making justice and for the firm defense against the ottomans, which he successfully held at bay for some time. (Rumors of cannibalism led to Tepes’ inclusion in the Dracula myth of Bram Stoker’s novel.)